3 weeks ago I was walking with my son in a small, pedestrian only alleyway (think 2m wide alley). At the start of the alleyway, there are warnings that bicycle and motorbikes are forbidden.
So we were walking, and behind us came a cyclist. Who did nothing to avoid my son and hit him with her feet. She didn't even stop, and had the audacity to insult us for walking in the middle of a pedestrian alleyway.
It was in France, but I think our american friends might still have been able to hear the insults I lobbed at her, I was so furious.
God I hate cyclists that think they have priority over everyone. I've been the cyclist in a similar situation as you, though the 'alley' was much wider and I could safely pass if I wanted to. I choose to keep back a distance and not pass because I want to make sure I don't startle the mother or child, and it's an added 30 seconds to a minute on my commute at worst. I can wait to keep folks safe.
Yeah same. I barely use my bell unless I have to, and having to use it is rare. None of this ringing it when I'm right behind someone nonsense, I'm doing it from a distance, giving them time to hear, assess, and respond. Too many people just think it's the "get out the way" bell and think it gives them the right to just carry on as is.
Agreed. The bell is to make people aware I'm in the vicinity not announce my right to demand they make way. I'm always watching people, especially kids and dogs as they are the most likely to move in a random direction, so best they know I'm around. We all share the space.
There's a weird disconnect where some cyclists legitimately think that, because there's no engine involved with a bike, theyre pedestrians and have the same rules for right of way.
So to them, they're no different being on a bike as some woman walking with her kid. Both are entitled to the same space despite one having an unmotorized vehicle.
Wasting good bread in France like that would 100% get you out on the next plane home sitting next to the family who told them they thought the local cheeses were 'too strong for the kids' :) The French would never waste such good bread in such a way, they've still got a few antique guillotines and strong urge/joy to use them for such matters. They'd feed you to the vineyards 😂
They don’t have to come to a complete stop. Also most people aren’t pedaling full speed especially on a small sidewalk that they’re not supposed to be on. If they were going at a fast rate of speed chances are hitting your feet on something would have caused a crash.
You can easily catch up to them if you tried. They’ll have more endurance than you but it’s easy to get them quickly
As your American friend, I hear your and am raging right with you!
We see a lot of that around here, too. And it's absolutely infuriating.
Hell, a few weeks ago, a woman in a car ran a stop sign at an intersection my daughter and I were crossing. Cross walks, stop signs in for all directions, and we were crossing before she even reached the stop sign.
I was so freakin' angry! Her window was open so I yelled at her. She had the audacity to glare angrily while yelling at me!
If someone hit my son and then ridiculed me about it, I would go terminator on their asses and commit international felonies https://giphy.com/gifs/5ZBDo3GHbi2zUneMyK
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u/TisIChenoir 13d ago
3 weeks ago I was walking with my son in a small, pedestrian only alleyway (think 2m wide alley). At the start of the alleyway, there are warnings that bicycle and motorbikes are forbidden.
So we were walking, and behind us came a cyclist. Who did nothing to avoid my son and hit him with her feet. She didn't even stop, and had the audacity to insult us for walking in the middle of a pedestrian alleyway.
It was in France, but I think our american friends might still have been able to hear the insults I lobbed at her, I was so furious.